Can-soldering machine.



PATENTED JULY 71 1903.

J. A. STEWARD. CAN SOLDERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED. AUG. 2| 1902.

2 SHBETS--BHEET 1` [NVLENTO/e ur. l J NO No MODEL.

Bmw

IN lmulu| '1 PATENTED JULY v, 190s.4

` No. 732,970. J. A. STBWARD.

GAN SOLDERING MACHINE.

110 MODEL.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 2| 1902.

Z SHEBTS-SHEET .2`

INVENfo/c Patented July 7, 1903.

OFFICE.

JOHN A. STEVARD, OF RUTLAND, VERMONT.

CAN-SOLDERING MAcHlNE@ sPEcIFIeA'rIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 732,970, dated .my 7, 190s. Application filed August 2,1902. senaiNo. 118,166. (Nomen.)

To ai/ZZ whom tmc/'y concern:

Beit known that LJOHN A. STEWARL a citizen of the United States, residing at Rutland, in the county of Rutland, State of Vermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Soldering Machines, of which the following is aspecication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.' E Y n This invention relates to a can-soldering machine, and `particularly to a construction wherein the can is conveyed bya carrier successively over an acid and solder bath for the purpose of soldering a head to a can.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel construction of apparatus for successively applying acid to the head of a can, then moving the lcan through a solderingbath, and finally cooling the soldered end preparatory tothe delivery of the can.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel construction of cooling belt adapted to move at a different speed from the can, and thus present a succession of coolingsurfaces to the soldered end of the can in order to quickly set the solder and permit an immediate delivery ofthe completed can.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for arresting-the rolling movement of the can over the acid and solder baths and turning the can into an upright position,

` so that the head thereof will rest upon the cooling-belt.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claims. In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of the machine; Fig. 2, an enlarged vertical section of the cooling-belt; Fig. 3, a plan of the machine; Fig. 4, a vertical section on theline 4 4 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 a similar section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures of` the drawings.

The letter A designates a frame of Van y suitable material, preferably iron, and provided with legs or supports A' andsuitably braced, as may-be found necessary. At each end of this frame driving-shafts B are provided, upon which sprocket-wheels B' are secured for the purpose of carrying and driving the sprocket-chain B2, which forms the carrier usedin connection with this invention. This carrier is provided with arms B3, having at their onterends an angularly-disposed portion B4, upon which acontact-Wheel B5 is rotatably mounted. These arms are spaced from each other, `so as to receive between the same a can which is carried forward by the contact of the` roller with the side of thecan, which contact also tends to rotate the can when the latter is in an inclined position over the acid and solder tanks.

At one end of the frameA an acid tank or pan O is'supported in any desired manner `forinstance,by means of aplatform Aadapted to receive the flanges O ot' the tank and support the same below the level of the holder. Within this tank a supporting-frame C2 is provided, and upon this frame a covering of absorbent material, such as flannel or felt, is provided for the purpose of absorbing the acid and delivering the same to the edge of the can as the same is rolled over the frame. The can is supported at its end upon a guide C4, secured to the platform and having an inclined face O5 to contact with the end of the can.` A cover-plate C, having a beveled inner edge C77, is located upon the platform A2 and extendsto the frame C2, so as to expose only a small surface of the acid into which the edge of the can may extend, as shown in Fig. 5. This cover-plate is' provided with a side guide C8 in contact with the side of the can for supporting the same during its rotation. Within the space between the coverplate C6 and the `side guides CB the carrierchain B2 is adapted to travel.

The can in its travel passes from the acidtank to a solder pan ortank D, which is also supported upon the platform A2 and provided with flanges D', adapted to rest upon this platform. rlhis solder-tank is further provided with acover-plate D2, having a depending flange D3, extending into the solder, and a back guide D410 contact with the end of the can, while atthe opposite side of the tank a cover-plate D5 is secured and provided with a deflected flange D6, extending into'the solder. Upon this plate D5 a side guide D7 is secured and forms a bearing for contact with the side of the can, similar to the guide C8. The can as it passes over the acid and solder ICO rto

tanks is disposed upon its side obliquely to the top of themachine, and as it leaves the solder-tank the can is turned into an upright position by means of a straight guide-rod E at one side of the tank and a coperating rod E at the opposite side, which is curved inward, as shown in Fig. 3, so that the inner end thereof is disposed in aparallel horizon-l talplane to the outer or fixedl end, while upon the face of the machine a flat trip-bar E2, Fig. 3, is disposed obliquely to the line of travel of the cans and by engaging the lower edge of the can arrests the rolling movement, so that as the rod E presses the upper end of the can laterally the draft of the carrier moves the can over the bar and causes the same to rest upon the soldered head and upon the cooling-belt F, which is in alinement with the travel of the cans over the tanks. This belt F is mounted at one end upon a journalingroller F and at its opposite end upon a driving-roller F2 on shaft B, while below the belt a water-tank F3 is provided, through which the lower layer of the belt passes beneath a bearing-roller F4. This tank is adjustably supported by any desired means-for instance, the hangers F5 at opposite ends,which are secured to the frame of the machine by set-screws F6. This belt is formed of suitable absorbent material, so that when the heated end of the can rests thereon it is quickly r cooled, and this cooling is facilitated by moving the belt at a different rate of speed from the carrier for the can. This is effected by means of the sprrocket-wheel B', which is of greater diameter than thev driving-roller F2 for the belt. Thus as the can is placed upright upon the belt by the guide-rods the carrier, which is moving at a slightly greater speed, moves or slides the can upon the cooling-belt, thus presenting to the head thereof more wet or cooling surface of the belt to come into contact with the can. The driving-shaft B may be driven by any desired means-for instance, by the pulley G upon the shaft Gr', which shaft is provided with a pinion adapted to mesh with a gear G2 upon the shaft B- while the solder-.tank is adapted to be heated by' any suitable means-such, for instance, as the burners G3, as indicated in Fig. 1.

In the operation of the machine the can to be soldered is placed between the arms of the carrier at the acid bath or tank, and the carrier then moves or rolls the can through the acid, thence Athrough the narrow opening in the solder-tank, and as the can leaves the solder the carrier-arm pushes the same up the ineline upon the guide-rod and brings the lower edge against the trip-bar, which arrests the rolling motion, when the carrier, continuing to move the can, causes it to tip over this bar and stand with its soldered end upon the carrying-belt between the guide-rods. The motion of the carrier being slightly greater than that of the belt, the can is slid upon the belt, so as to change its position thereon', as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, to bring the moistening-surface of an area of the belt greater than the head of the can into contact with said head for cooling the same,whi1e the continued movement of the belt carries the same through the waterpan, thus again moistening the same. As the can leaves the solder-tankand is turned upright the solder on the sides of the can runs downward and lls up any spaceswhich may exist in the seam, thus providing a practically tight joint. By providing the belt below the can different diameters of cans can be rolled through and soldered without any change of adjustment of the machine, save the adjustment of propell guide-rods for turning the can upon its end after soldering. It will alsobe noted that in this machine the solder and acid are both covered by the plates, so as to prevent the formation of dross thereon and retain it always bright and in proper condition for use, thus effecting great saving in the solder used.

It will be obvious that changes may be made in the details of construction and configuration without departing from the spirit of the invention as defi ned by the appended claims.

Having described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a can-soldering machine, a carrier, means for soldering, and a moistened apron at one end of the soldering means arranged to contact with the soldered portion of the can; substantially as specified.

` 2. In a can-soldering machine, a carrier, means for soldering, a moistened apron at one end of the soldering means arranged to contact with the soldered portion of the can, a Water-tank beneath said apron, and means for causing said apron to travel through said tank; substantially as specified.

3. In a can-soldering machine, a carrier,`

means for soldering, a moistened apron at one end of the soldering means arranged to contact with the soldered portion of the can, a water-tank beneath said apron, and means for causing said apron to travel through said tank at a different rate of speed from the cancarrier; substantially as specified.

4. In a can-soldering machine, a soldering device, a can-carrier mounted to convey cans through said device, a traveling apron located at one end of the soldering device, a water-- tank supported beneath said apron, a bearing-roller in said tank for submerging said apron in its passage therethrough and means for moving said apron at a less speed than the can-carrier; substantially as speciied.

5. In a can-soldering machine, a soldering device, a can-carrier mounted to convey cans through said device, a traveling apron located at one end of the soldering device, a watertank supported beneath said apron, a bearing-roller in said tank for submerging said apron in its passage therethrough, means for moving said apron at a less speed than the can-carrier, means for adjusting said tank relative to said apron, and means between IIO said apron and soldering device for changing stantially as specified.

6. In a can-soldering machine, a table proj vided with a iiuX-tank and a solder-tank, an" end guide for supporting the end of a can in] a position obliquely to the face of the table,

cover-plates for said tanks, a side guide disposed upon said cover-plates, and a carrier disposed in the space between said guides and cover-plates; substantially as specified.

7. In a can-soldering machine, a table provided with a flux-tank and a solder-tank, an end guide for supporting the end of a can in a position obliquely to the face of the table, cover-plates for said tanks, a side guide disposed upon said cover-plates, a carrier disposed in the space between said guides and cover-plates, an angularly-disposed arm carried by said carrier, and a contact-roller pivoted upon said arm to bear against the lower portion of the can; substantially as specified.

8. In a can-soldering machine, a table providedfwith a linx-tank and a solder-tank, an

. `end guide for supporting the end of a can in a position oblquely to the face of the table, cover-plates for said tanks, a side guide disposed upon said cover-plates, a carrier disposed in the space between said guides and `coverplates,`an singularly-disposed arm carried by said carrier, a contact-roller pivoted upon said arm to bear against the lower portion of the can, a trip-bar at the end of the solder-tank to arrest the rolling motion of the s can, and a curved guide to engage the upper portion of the can and turn the same into a vertical position; substantially as specified.

9. In a can-soldering machine, a table provided with a iuX-tank and a solder-tank, an

end guide for supporting the end of a can in a position obliquely to the face of vthe table,

cover-plates for said tanks, a side guide disposed upon said cover-plates, a carrier disposed in the space between said guides and cover-plates, an singularly-disposed arm carried by said carrier, a contact-roller pivoted upon said arm to bear against the lower portion of the can, a trip-bar at the end of the solder-tank to arrest the rolling motion of the can, a curved guide to engage the upper portion of the can and turn the same into a vertical position, a cooling-apron adapted to receive the can when thus turned, and means for moistening said apron; substantially as specified. y

l0. In a can-soldering machine, a table provided with a flux-tank and a solder-tank, an

. end guide for supporting the end of a can in a position obliquely to the face of the table, cover-plates for said tanks, a side guide disposed upon said cover-plates, a carrier disposed in the space between said guides and cover-plates, an angularly-disposed arm carried by said carrier, a contact-roller pivoted upon said arm to bear against the lower porcan, a curved guide to engage the upper portion of the can and turn the same into a vertical position, a cooling-apron adapted to receive the can when thus turned, means for moistening said apron, a driving-rollerfor said apron, and a sprocket for said carrier of greater diameter than the roller for the apron; substantially as specified.

l1. In a can-soldering machine, an acidtank, a supporting-frame therein having an inclined surface, an absorbent covering for said surface, and cover-plates for said tank adapted to present the edge of a can to said absorbent covering; substantially as specified.

12. In a Hcan-soldering machine, an acidtank, a supporting-frame therein having an inclined surface, an absorbent covering for said surface, cover-plates for said tank adapted to present the edge of a can to saidabsorbent covering, a s'oldertank at one end of said acid-tank, and covering-plates therefor adapted to present a narrow opening to the 4solder through which the edge of a can may project; substantially as specified.

13. In a can-soldering machine, au acidtank, a supporting-frame therein having an inclined surface, an absorbent covering for said surface, cover-plates for said tank adapted to present the edge of a can to said absorbent covering, a solder-tank at one end of said acid-tank, covering-plates therefor adapted to present a narrow opening to the solder through which the edge of a can may project, a straight guide-rod at one end of said soldering-tank to engage the upper portion of a can, and an inwardly-curved guide-rod opposite said straight rod substantially as specified.

14:. In a can-soldering machine, an acidtank, a supporting-frame therein having an inclined surface, an absorbent covering for said surface, cover-plates for saidtank .adapted to present the edge of a can to said absorbent covering, a solder-tank at one end of said acid-tank, covering-plates therefor adapted to present a narrow opening to the solder through which the edge of a can may project, a straight guide-rod at one end of said solderin g-tank to engage the upper portion of a can au inwardly-curved guide-rod opposite said straight rod, a traveling apron to receive cans from said rods, and means beneath said apron for moistening the same; substantially as specified.

15. In a can-soldering machine, an acidtank, a supporting-frame therein having .an inclined surface, an absorbent covering for said surface, cover-plates for said tank adapted to present the edge of a can to said absorbent covering, a solder-tank at one end of said acid-tank, covering-plates therefor adapted to present a narrow opening to the solder through which the edge of a can may project, a straight guide-rod at one end of said solder- IOO IIO

ing-tank to engage the upper portion of vel, can,` speed than the apron; substantially as specian inwardly-curved guide-rod opposite ysaid fied. ro straight rod, a' traveling apron to receive cans In testimony whereof I .affix my signature from said rods, means beneath said apron for' in presence of two Witnesses.

5 moistening the same, a carrier for the cans JOHN A. VSTEWARD.

having laterally-projecting arms thereon, Witnesses: Y means for driving said cooling-apron, and GEO. R. BOTTUM, meansfor driving said carrier at a. greater GEO. M. WELLS. 

